MANE-Graduate-Student-Handbook-AY18-19-SP19

Graduate Student Handbook AY18-19 Updated Spring 2019 Table of Contents Chapter Department of Mechanical, Aerospace & Nuclear Engineering The MANE Office of Graduate Student Services (OGSS): Contact List for MANE: Important Dates: MANE General Graduate Policies: Advising Structure: Forms and Procedures: Semester Registration Credits: Transferring Credits: Registering for Thesis, Dissertation, or Project Credits: Registering for a Graduate Independent Study: Summer Administrative Registration: MANE Lab Safety Course: Department Seminars: Responsible Conduct of Research Training: Graduate Change of Status: Satisfactory Academic Progress: Enforcement: Intellectual Property: Rensselaer Travel Reimbursement and Purchasing Policies and Procedures: Academic Integrity: Rensselaer Handbook of Student Rights & Responsibilities: Chapter 1 4 4 5 6 6 7 9 Doctoral Degree in MANE Doctoral Program: Institute Requirements: Transfer Students: Steps to Complete a PhD in MANE Choose a Graduate Advisor: File a Graduate Plan of Study: Doctoral Qualifying Exam: Forming a Doctoral Committee: Taking the Candidacy: Defending the Thesis: Submitting a Dissertation: Electronic Submission: 10 10 11 11 12 12 12 13 13 14 14 14 PhD Students Admitted with a Bachelor’s Degree and BS-PhD Students: PhD Students Admitted with a Master’s Degree: Doctoral Student Evaluations TA Evaluations: 15 15 16 17 17 MANE Department Curriculum Requirements for PhD Doctoral Student Yearly Review (DSYR): 17 Chapter Master’s Degrees in MANE Institute Requirements Master of Science Steps to Complete a MS Degree in MANE: Course Work Requirements: Thesis Committee: Thesis and Presentation: Completing the MS Presentation: Submitting the Thesis: Electronic Submission: Master of Engineering (MEng) Steps to Complete a MEng Degree in MANE: Course Work Requirements: Final Project: MATH Requirement: 18 19 19 19 20 20 21 21 21 22 22 22 22 23 Chapter Co-Terminal Master’s Degree Program in MANE Steps to Complete a Co-Terminal Master’s Degree in MANE: Institute Requirements for Co-Terminal Students: Registration: Co-Terminal Student Advising: Curriculum: Financial Aid for Co-Terminal Students: 24 24 25 26 26 26 Chapter MANE Education for Working Professionals General Institute Policies and Registration: Advising: Curriculum: Contacts and Web Links: 27 28 28 29 Chapter Financial Assistance and External Support Teaching Assistants (TA) and Research Assistants (RA): Duration of Financial Assistance: Fellowships and External Funding Opportunities: Cooperative Education & Professional Opportunities: 30 30 31 31 Appendices Doctoral Program Planner w/BS Doctoral Plan of Study w/BS Doctoral Program Planner w/MS Doctoral Plan of Study w/MS Masters of Science Program Planner Masters of Science Plan of Study Graduate Courses in MANE Mathematics Courses Research Research Centers & Laboratories Student & Professional Organizations Housing TA Evaluation Form Graduate Plan of Study Change of Status Form Transfer Credit Approval Form Graduate Independent Study Form Nomination of Master's Committee Form Record of Master's Thesis & Oral Present Nomination of Doctoral Committee Record of Candidacy Exam Record of Dissertation Exam Acknowledgement 33 35 36 38 39 40 41 46 47 50 52 55 56 58 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 68 69 Chapter Department of Mechanical, Aerospace & Nuclear Engineering The Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering (MANE) is part of Rensselaer’s School of Engineering (SoE) MANE offers four interconnected but distinct graduate programs leading to a master’s or doctoral degree: Mechanical Engineering (MECL), Aerospace Engineering (AERO), Nuclear Engineering (NUCL), and Engineering Physics (EPHY) 1.1 The MANE Office of Graduate Student Services (OGSS): The MANE Office of Graduate Student Services (OGSS) is located in Jonsson Engineering Center (JEC) 2002 This office was established by the MANE department to assist graduate students as they navigate through the challenges they may face as a master’s or doctoral student at Rensselaer All necessary graduate student forms and advice to help students complete them can be found here The OGSS also provides degree program information and planners, information on applying to graduate programs, help with scheduling and course registration issues, details on external funding programs, and guidance for students planning their future careers 1.2 Contact List for MANE: Graduate Student Resources Office of Graduate Student Services (JEC-2002) Graduate Programs Director: Sr Student Administrator: Administrative Specialist: Theodorian Borca-Tasciuc (borcat@rpi.edu) Beth Ann Macey (maceyb2@rpi.edu) Sue Miller (milles7@rpi.edu) MANE Department Offices (JEC-2049) Department Head: Administrative Coordinator, Sr.: Administrative Specialist: Suvranu De (des@rpi.edu) Colleen Bonesteel (carroc@rpi.edu) Hollis McEvilly (mcevih@rpi.edu) Office of Undergraduate Student Services (JEC-2012) Undergraduate Programs Director: Sr Student Administrator: Administrative Specialist: Page|1 Tom Haley (haleyt@rpi.edu) Kate Stockton (stockk@rpi.edu) Julia Schatz (schatj4@rpi.edu) Technical Support Technical Manager: Academic Support Technician: Desktop Support Analyst: Randy McDougall (mcdour@rpi.edu) David DiGiulio (degiud@rpi.edu) Kenneth Hargrove (hargrk@rpi.edu) Financial Support Business Manager: Business Administrator: Administrative Specialist: Operations Associate: Amy Edmans (edmana2@rpi.edu) Lori Robichaud (robicl@rpi.edu) Jan Lajeunesse (lajeuj@rpi.edu) Esther Rendano (rendae@rpi.edu) MANE Department Website Links: MANE Department Website: Faculty: Research: Labs: Education for Working Professionals: http://mane.rpi.edu http://mane.rpi.edu/people http://mane.rpi.edu/research http://mane.rpi.edu/labs http://mane.rpi.edu/aps General Links: The Institute Catalog http://catalog.rpi.edu/ Academic Calendar http://www.rpi.edu/academics/calendar/ Institute Tuition Policy http://gradoffice.rpi.edu/update.do?catcenterkey=17 Student Information System: https://sis.rpi.edu/ Graduate Admissions (Co-Terminal Applicants):http://gradoffice.rpi.edu/update.do?catcenterkey=33 Graduate Student Forms: http://gradoffice.rpi.edu/update.do?catcenterkey=20 Registrar Forms: http://registrar.rpi.edu/update.do?catcenterkey=29 Office of Graduate Education (OGE): http://gradoffice.rpi.edu/setup.do Thesis Submission Information & Forms: http://gradoffice.rpi.edu/update.do?catcenterkey=31 Rensselaer Libraries: https://library.rpi.edu/ Learning Management System: https://lms.rpi.edu/ UMI ETD Administrator (Thesis): https://secure.etdadmin.com/cgi-bin/school?siteId=489 External Funding Opportunities: http://gradoffice.rpi.edu/update.do?artcenterkey=300 Student Advisory Council: https://www.rpi.edu/dept/ne/public_html/Sgroups.html Career Development Center: http://www.rpi.edu/dept/cdc/ Co-op/Internships: https://www.rpi.edu/dept/cdc/students/experience/coop/index.html Page|2 1.2.1 Important Dates: August 30, 2018 September 3, 2018 September 14, 2018 September 21, 2018 Classes begin Labor Day - no classes Fall 2018 Add Deadline and last day for NE grade requirements for Spring 2018 December 2018 Degree Application Deadline Nomination of Master’s Thesis Committee and Degree Designation forms due October 8, 2018 Columbus Day No classes October 9, 2018 Classes resume Follow a Monday class schedule October 22 - November 2, 2018 Advisement for spring registration Students should consult their faculty advisers October 24, 2018 Last day for graduate students to drop a course November 2, 2018 Doctoral dissertations due to advisers November - November 19, 2018 Spring 2019 Registration November 9, 2018 Master’s theses and engineering projects due to advisers November 19, 2018 Master's theses due in the Office of Graduate Education November 20, 2018 Last day to defend doctoral dissertations Thanksgiving recess begins November 21 - November 23, 2018 No classes November 30, 2018 Doctoral dissertations due in the Office of Graduate Education December 12, 2018 Last day of classes December 13, 2018 MANE M.E Project Presentations December 13 - December 16, 2018 Reading Days - no classes (Weekend) December 17 - December 21, 2018 Final Examinations December 17, 2018 Add/Drop reopens for Spring 2019 December 22, 2018 Winter recess begins December 25 - January 1, 2019 Holiday Winter Break-Institute is closed December 31, 2018 Official date of December graduation January 10, 2019 Classes begin Thursday = Monday January 11, 2019 Friday = Tuesday Classes January 21, 2019 Martin Luther King Jr Day Staff holiday No classes January 23, 2019 Last day for students to add courses or change sections or to put courses on audit February 8, 2019 May 2019 Degree Applications deadline Nomination of Master’s Thesis Committee and Degree Designation forms due February 18, 2019 President’s Day No classes Staff holiday March 1, 2019 Summer registration begins Last day for graduate students to drop courses March 1, 2019 Doctoral dissertations due to advisers Master’s theses and projects due to advisers March - March 8, 2019 Spring Break March 11- March 22, 2019 Advisement for Fall registration Students should consult their faculty advisers March 25 - April 8, 2019 Registration for all currently enrolled students for the Fall semester March 29, 2019 Last day to defend doctoral dissertations Master's theses due to OGE April 12, 2019 Doctoral dissertations due in the Office of Graduate Education April 26, 2019 Last day of classes April 27 - April 29, 2019 Reading Days-no classes (Weekend) April 29, 2019 MANE M.E Project Presentations April 29, 2019 Add/Drop reopens for Fall 2019 April 30 - May 4, 2019 Final Examinations May 17, 2019 ROTC Commissioning Ceremony May 18, 2019 Commencement Page|3 1.3 1.3.1 MANE General Graduate Policies: Advising Structure: Most graduate students will be assigned a graduate advisor at the beginning of the first semester in the program Any concerns which a student might have, should be discussed with their advisor first If there is no resolution, concern can be discussed with the Graduate Program Director (GPD) and finally, if necessary, the Department Head 1.3.2 Forms and Procedures: Students and their advisors must sign each form submitted to the GPD for review All forms are to be directly submitted to the MANE Office of Graduate Student Services (OGSS) for consideration by the GPD or Department Head where appropriate Once approved by the GPD, forms are forwarded to the Office of Graduate Education (OGE) for processing Graduate student forms can be found in the Appendices section of this handbook They can also be found at the Office of Graduate Education and/or Registrar websites 1.3.3 Semester Registration Credits: Graduate students must register for at least 12 credits each semester, with a maximum of 15 credits, to maintain full-time status The only exception to this requirement is for students serving as teaching assistants These students may register for a minimum of credits to maintain their full-time status Students registering for more than 15 credits during the fall or spring terms will be charged the academic year tuition rate plus a per-credit-hour rate for each credit hour exceeding 15 credits, and requires approval from OGE Summary of registration requirements for the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace & Nuclear Engineering (MANE):       Students who are serving as TAs must register for a minimum of credit hours (but no more than 15 credit hours) for the fall and spring semesters Students not serving as TAs must register for 12-15 credit hours for the fall and spring semesters Student who received support during the summer must register for Summer Administrative Registration (ADMN-6600), but cannot take credit-bearing courses or research credits Normal tuition charges apply for students who take credit-bearing courses or research credits during the summer Students must make sure to discuss this with their advisors before registering Students must be registered each term in order to receive their degree Each full-time student must register each semester for Graduate Seminar (MANE-6900), attend each seminar, and meet all requirements This requirement does not apply to co-terminal students It is critical that the registration requirements described above are met to be considered for full-time study This is especially important for international students who have to meet certain visa requirements, but more generally for all students, in order to meet Rensselaer’s residency requirements 1.3.4 Transferring Credits: In order to apply to transfer credits, the student must complete a Transfer Credit Approval Form Courses considered eligible for transfer must have been completed no more than years prior to matriculation at Rensselaer No more than credits can be transferred for a master’s degree and no more than 24 credits for a PhD degree Graduate students must earn the equivalent of an A or B grade to transfer credit No grade is shown on the Page|4 RPI transcript for transfer credits and the grade from transferred courses not factor into the RPI GPA However, transferred credits count in the total earned hours To complete the form students must:    1.3.5 Obtain a course syllabus for the course they wish to take / have taken and a syllabus for the Rensselaer equivalent course These courses must be evaluated by the corresponding RPI department For example, if a student wants to transfer a Mathematics course, they will need prior approval from the RPI Mathematics Department Include an official or unofficial transcript with the form if the course has already been completed The student must also have the other college send a sealed official transcript directly to the Registrar’s Office Have their advisor sign the form, then submit the syllabi and form to the Office of Graduate Student Services (OGSS) for the Graduate Program Director’s (GPD) review and approval Once approved, the form will be sent to the Office of Graduate Education (OGE) for processing Registering for Thesis, Dissertation, or Project Credits: Depending on the student’s degree program, graduate students will register for thesis, dissertation, or project credits The number of credits they register for each semester may vary, as long as they complete the minimum required to finish their degree in time In order to register for these credits, students must visit the Student Information System (SIS) website and register for either Master’s Thesis (MANE 6990), Master’s Project (MANE 6980) or (MANE 6970 for GRADUATE PROGRAM FOR WORKING PROFESSIONALS students), or Dissertation (MANE 9990), under the name of their graduate advisor For issues regarding registering for courses on SIS, students must contact the Registrar Please note that when registering for thesis, dissertation, or project credits on (SIS) website, students will need to specify the number of credits in the drop-down menu that they intend to register for, since the default number shown is one credit hour 1.3.6 Registering for a Graduate Independent Study: When a graduate student chooses to an Independent Study (MANE 4940 or 6940), they must complete a Readings / Independent Study Registration Form Please note the following:    1.3.7 The Independent Study must be completed with a faculty member other than the student’s graduate advisor No more than credits of Independent Study may be used towards a graduate degree This form is not to be used for late registration / late adding course It must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Student Services (OGSS) before each semester’s deadline to add a course, as shown on the Academic Calendar Summer Administrative Registration: Summer Administrative Registration (SAR) is a registration requirement for graduate students who will be receiving a stipend over the summer or graduating in the summer semester Students taking credit-bearing courses or research credits should not register for SAR Students must register for ADMN-6600 (SAR) by the registration deadline if they intend to stay at Rensselaer for graduate study during summer Page|5 1.3.8 MANE Lab Safety Course: Mechanical, Aerospace & Nuclear Engineering (MANE) graduate students are required to complete multiple requirements within our safety program The Dean of SOE requires that anyone doing any lab/shop work has to take a quiz produced by SOE and found in Skillport Every graduate, co-term, URP, application lab student, SOE club member must take the Skillport quiz at the beginning of every semester Once you have completed the quiz, the guide will direct you to save a “certificate of completion” Every student needs to send a soft copy of that certificate to the MANE Technical Manager If you have any issues navigating through the Skillport quizzes, please contact Skillport Support via the Skillport Homepage Quizzes may be taken as often as needed to achieve a score of 100% in order to be compliant This is a recurring requirement, meaning that if you are a Grad that works in the labs at RPI then you will have to take the SOE quiz at the start of every semester If you are a URP student that works on-and-off five times in years then you will take the quiz times; once at the beginning of each semester in which you are actively employed in a lab Please go to RPI info and click Skillport and log in using your RCS ID and Password Select My Assigned Learning If you have not been enrolled in the safety course, then skip to pages & Scroll down and select Rensselaer Manufacturing and Prototyping Laboratories Safety Orientation If the Rensselaer Manufacturing and Prototyping Laboratories Safety Orientation Course does not appear in your Assigned Learning, then click the link below or copy and paste it into your browser window https://rpi.skillport.com/skillportfe/main.action?path=summary/CUSTOMER_DEFINED/_scorm12_sppubrpi_m an_prot_lab_safety Please complete these quizzes before you begin your work 1.3.9 Department Seminars: All graduate students except for co-terminal students are required to register each semester for Graduate Seminar MANE 6900 and meet all requirements Announcements are sent to students each week to inform them of upcoming seminars 1.3.10 Responsible Conduct of Research Training: All students who are supported on National Science Foundation funds must complete the Responsible Conduct of Research Training prior to receiving support This training is offered by CITI for RPI Additional information on the training can be found at: http://rpi.edu/research/office/rcr.html Furthermore, all PhD students are required to complete the training prior to their Candidacy Exam A copy of the certificate of completion of the training must be included with the Record of Candidacy Exam form 1.3.11 Graduate Change of Status: The Graduate Change of Status form is used to change curriculum or degree program, add an additional master’s degree program, change campuses, return to active status, or withdraw from a program The form is to be completed and signed by the student and advisor (both current and new advisors, if changing curriculum), then submitted to Office of Graduate Student Services (OGSS) for the Graduate Program Director (GPD)’s review A current or updated Plan of Study (2.2.2) must be submitted with the Change of Status form Page|6 Housing Housing Most graduate students live off campus and arrange housing for themselves However, the Institute also has a limited number of openings for graduate student housing The Rensselaer Graduate Community at City Station This Rensselaer graduate student housing option is located off campus and is provided through an affiliation with a private developer It is exclusively for Rensselaer graduate students, and above, (post-doctoral fellows and visiting scholars also are eligible,) who are single, have families, or are married The housing community is located one block from the southwestern edge of campus The facility consists of two neighboring buildings - City Station West (for singles) and City Station South (for families and married Rensselaer students) City Station West opened in 2011, and City Station South opened in August 2012 Singles Housing The units in City Station West are fully furnished; three and four bedroom units, each with a private bedroom and private bathroom for each resident, in-room internet and cable at no extra cost; free shuttle service to and from RPI; 24-hour security monitoring; common study and gathering areas; dishwashers; air conditioning; an on-site exercise facility; free parking; and street level restaurants and retail stores Family and married units in City Station South provide the same amenities, but are unfurnished, offer one, two, or three bedroom single-family units, and residents share the City Station West exercise facility Full details on both City Station West and South are provided at the College Suites at City Station web site You may also contact Dennis Gornic, Associate Dean in the Office of Graduate Education at dgornic@rpi.edu and visit the OGE website for the most current information P a g e | 57 TA Evaluation Form TAEvaluation Form TEACHING ASSISTANT (TA) EVALUATION FORM  It is the responsibility of the TA to arrange an evaluation meeting with the course instructor(s) upon completion of the TA assignment  It is also the responsibility of the TA to return this form to the Graduate Student Services Office following the evaluation meeting The Graduate Student Services Office will keep a copy of the form in the student’s file In addition, copies will be mailed to the TA, to the course instructor(s), and to the TA’s graduate advisor(s) TA Name: Instructor Name(s): Date of Evaluation: Course Number: Semester/Year: Graduate Advisor Names(s) Evaluation of the TA Performance (Faculty, please circle the appropriate category) Technical knowledge of the course material: Excellent Very Good Good Average Poor N/A Performance during office hours and review sessions: Excellent Very Good Good Average Poor N/A Ability to develop new homework and exam problems: Excellent Very Good Good Average Poor N/A Ability to grade homework and exam problems accurately and in a timely manner: Excellent Very Good Good Average Poor N/A Availability to students: Excellent Very Good Good Average Poor N/A Management of the course logistics, including: • Preparation of solutions to homework and exam problems • Photocopying of course materials • Maintenance of the course Web site • Preparation of electronic and/or hard-copy versions of the course solution book Excellent P a g e | 58 Very Good Good Average Poor N/A Ability to communicate student concerns to the instructor(s): Excellent Very Good Good Average Poor N/A Planning, designing, and supervising of laboratory experiments (for TAs in laboratory courses): Excellent Very Good Good Average Poor N/A Communication and personal skills when interacting with students: Excellent Very Good Good Average Poor N/A 10 Overall TA performance: Excellent Very Good Good Average Poor N/A If the instructor(s) have additional comments and recommendations, please attach them TA Signature: Instructor Signature(s): _ _ P a g e | 59 Graduate Plan of Study P a g e | 60 P a g e | 61 Change of Status Form Visit http://gradoffice.rpi.edu/update.do?catcenterkey=20 for most recent version P a g e | 62 Transfer Credit Approval Form Visit http://gradoffice.rpi.edu/update.do?catcenterkey=20 for most recent version P a g e | 63 Graduate Independent Study Form Visit http://registrar.rpi.edu/update.do?catcenterkey=29 for most recent version P a g e | 64 Nomination of Master's Committee Form Visit http://gradoffice.rpi.edu/update.do?catcenterkey=20 for most recent version P a g e | 65 Record of Master's Thesis & Oral Present Visit http://gradoffice.rpi.edu/update.do?catcenterkey=20 for most recent version P a g e | 66 Nomination of Doctoral Committee Visit http://gradoffice.rpi.edu/update.do?catcenterkey=20 for most recent version P a g e | 67 Record of Candidacy Exam Visit http://gradoffice rpi.edu/update.do?catcenterkey=20 for most recent version P a g e | 68 P a g e | 69 Record of Dissertation Exam Visit http://gradoffice rpi.edu/update.do?catcenterkey=20 for most recent version P a g e | 70 Acknowledgement I, , have read and understand the rules and regulations of the Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering Graduate Program Signature Date *Due at the end of your first term in the Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering Graduate Program P a g e | 71